Is it spring yet?

daryl.weaver 1/13/2012, 10:28 pm

Book bought and read....Check
Boxes built (2'x6' constructed of untreated 2x8's) ...Roger Doger
Beds lined (landscape film covered on the bottom with plastic "chicken wire" both attached with staples...A-OK
Tumbling composter (arrived via FexEd today)...Ba Zinga!
Vermiculite located and purchased...high grade, coarse.... Cha Ching!
Nylon netting ordered

To do....

Build cages/covers for beds
Assemble composter...start "production"
Construct climbing support and attach netting
Finish planting plan
Select and order seeds

Suggestions? What am I forgetting?

nancy 1/13/2012, 10:31 pm

You are well on your way. Kudos - and welcome!!

**camprn** 1/13/2012, 10:31 pm

LOL, it looks like you are on a roll... after it is all done, re read the All New SFG book... and enjoy? What a Face

**llama momma** 1/13/2012, 11:16 pm

And peat should be very easy to find.

Sounds like you are lining the bottom of the box with chicken wire? The holes may be large enough for voles? I'd like you to know of another choice, 1/2 inch hardware cloth. I've got voles and those little critters have not been able to get near my veggies.

daryl.weaver 1/13/2012, 11:48 pm

llama momma wrote:And peat should be very easy to find.

Sounds like you are lining the bottom of the box with chicken wire? The holes may be large enough for voles? I'd like you to know of another choice, 1/2 inch hardware cloth. I've got voles and those little critters have not been able to get near my veggies.

AWESOME! As luck would have it, that's actually what I used. I just called it "chicken wire" because I forgot what Lowe's labeled as. It's black plastic mash in little squares about 1/2" each. I built the boxes then stapled landscape file to the bottom the applied the hardware cloth to that, so it's actually on the very bottom (closest to the ground) I was afraid I had gone too cheap opting for plastic instead of wire. You just made my whole weekend! (Yeah, guess I don't get out much if that made my whole weekend.). Thanks for the encouragement. I'm in Madison, MS btw. Mild winters and long, hot, humid summers.

**llama momma** 1/14/2012, 12:05 am

I used metal hardware cloth but please don't panic just yet. I don't know if a vole or mole has the chewing power to get through that type of plastic. I hope someone else comes along to share more thoughts on this.

ashort 1/14/2012, 12:23 am

I just used poultry wire under mine... not sure the gophers of moles or voles or whatever can burrow in the clay that we call "the ground" here anyway...

daryl.weaver 1/14/2012, 10:49 am

ashort wrote:I just used poultry wire under mine... not sure the gophers of moles or voles or whatever can burrow in the clay that we call "the ground" here anyway...

Amen to the clay. We have raccoons, 'possums, rabbits and armadillo, even a few deer which is unusual for a suburban subdivision. I've never seen any true burrowers around my house. I think it will more useful in protecting the landscape film than keeping varmints out.

**Furbalsmom** 1/14/2012, 1:11 pm

daryl, you are doing great. You are so organized. cheers

Are you going to purchase five types of compost for your first batch of Mel's Mix, or are you anticipating that your compost tumbler will provide you with enough completed compost prior to fillling your bed?

Just curious

daryl.weaver 1/14/2012, 7:01 pm

Furbalsmom wrote:daryl, you are doing great. You are so organized. Are you going to purchase five types of compost for your first batch of Mel's Mix, or are you anticipating that your compost tumbler will provide you with enough completed compost prior to fillling your bed?

Just curious

Thanks "Fur" for he encouragement. thanks

Im not the most patient of folk, and since I just assembled my Spin Bin tumbler and filled it for the first time today (i.e. I have no idea what I'm doing) I am planning to buy 5 composts for my first time out. Hopefully for my 2nd box I will have my own. I filled it with dry leaves and green, fresh clippings from my winter rye grass. It's about 8cf, and it's full, so I was thinkng about adding about a quart of liquid/day plus any accepable kitchen scraps. Does that sound reasonable?

**Furbalsmom** 1/14/2012, 7:21 pm

Oh Yeah on the kitchen scraps. I have never used a tumbling composter, so I have NO IDEA how much liquid it would take to keep it moist. I do know you don't want it soggy.

quiltbea 1/14/2012, 11:35 pm

Lucky you getting your tumbling composter right away. They are marvelous.

I would suggest getting some lightweight row cover. With the bugs, especially in the south, it would pay to protect your new plants until they blossom and require bees for pollination. Then after they start to fruit, replace the row cover once again against the birds and more insects. When it gets too warm, remove the row cover because it'll increase the temps a little under there.

Good luck and have fun.

daryl.weaver 1/14/2012, 11:58 pm

quiltbea wrote:Lucky you getting your tumbling composter right away. They are marvelous.

...With the bugs, especially in the south, it would pay to protect your new plants until they blossom and require bees for pollination. Then after they start to fruit, replace the row cover once again against the birds and more insects. When it gets too warm, remove the row cover because it'll increase the temps a little under there.

Good luck and have fun.

Wow. I'm such a dope. I was wondering why people don't leave them covered all the time....never thought about pollination. Thanks for the advice.

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